courtesy of Colombe Derstine-Jacobsen

Here are some dinner ideas that will give you terrific lunches the next day, and will be just as exciting as dinner was the night before. The trick is to make the first meal something easy to incorporate with new and exciting flavors the second time around.

My recent favorite go-to for this is simple roast chicken – healthy with not too much prep time – a perfect option as the weather is cooling down. And since now is the perfect time to warm the oven (and the rest of the home too), why not roast two birds while you’re at it? I like to serve the roast chicken with a hearty vegetable side like roasted butternut squash and apples with maple-glazed pecans. The maple syrup alone makes this a hit with kids, nevermind the sweet apples and squash.

There are endless opportunities for the day after. I like making Waldorf salad, adding the leftover roast chicken from the night before — It’s a great combination of savory and sweet and an easy way to get in a serving of fruit along with lean protein. This particular Waldorf salad recipe is lunch friendly because there aren’t any greens to get wilted during the day. Also, most Waldorf salads call for apples only but this one has pears as well, which I love. It calls for yogurt instead of mayonnaise, which makes it more travel friendly and healthier than traditional versions.

I try to get in the habit of making chicken stock whenever I roast a chicken. I always take the leftover chicken bones and pieces to make a simple chicken stock. . Having chicken stock at the ready is super handy, it saves time and boosts flavor in recipes, especially great for soups and stews as we approach chilly fall weather. Just cover in a large pot with water, Add some onions, carrots and celery if you have any on hand, and bring to a boil, simmer for 3-4 hours. Strain and store in individual containers in the freezer.

As an alternative for lunch, if you don’t want to bother with a knife and fork for the salad, pick up some delicious fresh baked bread at your local bakery or supermarket, and make a sandwich out of the Waldorf salad.

Other dinners that can yield delicious leftovers for sandwiches or salads:

• Pork tenderloin

• Grilled shrimp

• Steak

Categories: Cook Once, Eat Twice | Tags: Baked and Roasted Chicken, Chicken Salad, Fruit Salad, Lunch, Rotisserie Chicken
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